U.S. median for this major: $57,751.
College Scorecard field of study; 29 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 54% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,851.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $29,237. College Scorecard.
WMU Geography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses WMU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $5,263 | $24,262 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | 1.6 years |
| $48–75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | 3.9 years |
| $75–110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | 5.1 years |
| $110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | 6.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (29% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Geography graduates 4 years after graduating ($49,921) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,510 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Geography graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Michigan University | $62,999 | $27,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University | $61,831 | $20,500 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 3 | Michigan State University | $56,515 | — | $19,680 | 81% |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University | $53,455 | $17,425 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 5 | Western Michigan University | $49,921 | $27,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
4 more Michigan colleges offer Geography but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Geography graduates
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Geographers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -2.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at WMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WMU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,562
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at WMU
- Political Science$54,840
- Sociology$51,835
- Economics—
- Anthropology$41,490
WMU Geography questions
How much do WMU Geography graduates earn?
Geography graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median $49,921 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Geography graduates across 116 colleges is $57,751.
How much debt do WMU Geography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geography graduates of Western Michigan University is $27,000, about 54% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,851.
Is WMU a good school for Geography in Michigan?
On pay, Geography graduates of Western Michigan University earn $49,921 four years out, $6,594 below the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($56,515) and $7,830 below the U.S. median ($57,751). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does WMU rank for Geography in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Geography graduate earnings, Western Michigan University ranks 5th. The highest is Central Michigan University at $62,999.
What jobs do Geography graduates get?
A common career is cartographers and photogrammetrists, with a median wage of $75,090 in Michigan and $81,390 nationally. Others include geographers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Michigan University Geography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/geography (College Scorecard and BLS data).